Audio RoundupLatest Essays
Audio Roundup 2025:37
by Joel Rich
The S”A in O”C 149 discusses the procedures for returning the sefer torah after kriat hatora but in O”C 134 he seems to assume it’s already out in discussing kriat hatora (thus no procedures for taking out). Any ideas why?
From a pure halachic viewpoint ISTM there is no benefit for an avel to lead services up to, but not including, yishtabach (some minyanim have no one leading that potion). Is the value that klal yisrael has invested it with value independent of halacha?
- Rabbi Dr. Nachum Amsel-(89) Music in Judaism Music is an important element of judaism (think levites in bet mikdash, king david). Is voice or instrument primary? What’s the role of intent (eg chazan)? Can we import non-jewish music? Why was the post churban ban dropped in practice?
- Mrs. Alissa Zeffren-Shoftim: Self-Awareness Theory and the Johari Window Positive psychology lessons in shoftim – we are all judges/leaders at some level. Striving for Tzedek leads to tmimut. We need to increase our self-awareness (trough tfila and outside input) to deal with our blind spots.
- Rabbi Shaya Katz-Legends & Lessons: R Meir Simcha of Dvinsk Bio of r meir simcha of dvinsk and some of his messages (berlin isn’t jerusalem).
- Rabbi Dr. Yakov Nagen- The Soul of the Mishna -(Part 1): Mishna Brachkot : The Twice a Day Coronation of Hashem First in a series concerning not obvious messages of the mishna. The first two mishnayot in brachot reflect the all- encompassing nature of being a mamlechet cohanim and bnai mlachim.
- Rabbi Ike Sultan-Kashrut Shiur 1: Animal Kingdom, Question of Hare and Hyrex How do we deal with a medrash (torah lists all the exceptions of cud chew/split hoof) that seems factually incorrect?
- Rabbi Michael Taubes-Hilchos Shabbos Opening Shiur Introduction to r taubes’ hilchot shabbat series. Includes a description of is organizational approach to the classes and review of the chofetz chaim’s introduction to the importance of hilchot shabbat.
- Rabbi Assaf Bednarsh-Ketubot Perek Rishon shiur 1 (חיוב לברר ספק ספיקא Introduction to ketubot with lots of lamdus on sfek sfeika, efshar lvarer, rov and more.
- R TH Weinreb -Tfila Series Tfila insights on ata chonen. R ybs on human intellect in general and torah intellect in particular. Human intellect results in human perennial distress and lack of satisfaction. What is the significance of the switch from the language of chonein to lomed?
- Rabbi Ike Sultan-Halachic Principles: Lo Tasur Min Hadvar (Sefer Hachinuch 495) Short insights into lo tassur including what a ger must accept (“rabbinic judaism”).
- Rabbi Dr. Jason Weiner-Truth Telling: when/how to inform patients of bad news & the role of AI, genetic screening Gosses related insights including: is gentle touch permitted? Why is the body put on the floor, lighting a candle during the gosses period and when might one move the body? Current poskim surveyed.
- Rav Asher Weiss- פרשת שופטים: שוחד וחיוב השבתו Can a recipient be forced to return a bribe? Fascinating discussion of how we choose which parallel case (eg gezel, onaah, ribit) to draw conclusions from.
- Rabbi Jonathan Ziring-Navi, Navi Sheker, and the Nature of Religious Life A careful study of nvuah as per the rambam yields the result that there is no outside certainty that doesn’t require your active participation to determine your actions.
- Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-From The Rabbi’s Desk – Needling the Chosson Primarily an analysis of the issur of hashchatat zera. Good advice – do not tell teenage boys that they will burn in gehenom for it.
- Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-Ten Minute Halacha – Netilas Yadayim Near Your Bed The concept of washing in the morning close to your bed to get rid of ruach ra is only found in the zohar and thus there’s room to be lenient if needed.
- R’ Shraga Kallus-The Years Biggest Shaylos Questions from this year: chareidi army service (don’t need to understand, just listen to the gedolim) and what is a war related emergency for purposes of shabbat and other violations (emergency vehicle tire changing, calls with overseas parents, fearful child, siren during amida and much more).
- R’ Zev Smith-Treating Wounds on Shabbos M”B Chelek Gimmel – Siman 328 Medical treatments on shabbat including: medicine (generally OK for choleh treatment, not for pain), stopping bleeding (OK)¸cuts (depend where), internal bleed (treat), bandage bleed spot (wash first), schita/mmareach application issues, and applying band aids (OK).
- Rabbi Yakov Horowitz -Orthodox Parents and Their LGBTQ Children R horowitz describes r penners organization (keshet) wich provides resources for inividuals and families in the orthodox community dealing with LBGTQ issue. Recommendations-more understanding and less judgmental.
- Rabbi Dr. Jason Weiner-Truth Telling: when/how to inform patients of bad news & the role of AI, genetic screening Trends in the secular world of how much truth to tell patients have opened a large gap with the traditional halachic approach. Concepts include patient autonomy tiruf hadaat, yishuv hadaat, gneivat daat and more. Each case requires its own analysis. Is technology making health prediction more biting?
- R Zev Smith-What Can Be Done Before Birchas Hatorah Saying birchat hatora before learning is important but what counts as learning? (eg kriat shma, tehilim, listening to mp3 …)
- Rabbi Aaron Buechler-The Halachic Process: An Overview Review of halachic process from matan torah to who is the poseik acharon today
- Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-Brisker Kulos Briskers look to be yotzei lchol hadeyot. One should only take on chumrot that are appropriate for their own personal level.
Brisker kulot include not saying hamapil, daytime kiddush is only hagafen, don’t need a shaliach for shalach manot, no tzitzit on shabbat, eat a full kzait of karpas, daven quickly, and choleh’s lowered fasting thresholds.
- Rabbi Aaron Buechler-Mental Health & Halacha: Introduction Mental health halachic issues require careful analysis as they are a form of illness subject to halachot similar to those for physical illness.
- R’ Yitzchak Breitowitz-Q&A: Reality, Customs & The Zohar Mislabeled as Q&A; it’s really about tshuva for various sins as well as defining chilul and kiddush hashem.
- Rabbi Michael Taubes-Parshas Shoftim “Choosing a King in Eretz Yisrael: Is There Room for Democracy?” Is appointing a melech a mitzvah? Perhaps only if the Jewish people want one?
- Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-From The Rabbi’s Desk – Yichud in the Sky Is there an issur yichud in a daughter/wife or both taking flying lessons with a male instructor? (no)
- Rav Asher Weiss-שיחת פתיחה לזמן אלול תשפ״ה Talk to r weiss’s kolel concerning the importance of tshuva and torah during elul zman.
- Rabbi Jonathan Ziring-Horayot 1: The Framing of Horayot – Even Leaders Make Mistakes Introduction to mesechet horiyot, how do we reconcile the idea that sanhedrin can err with the concept of lo tasur.
- Rabbi Ike Sultan-Tosafot: Background and Purpose What was the role of the baalei tosfot and what was their genealogy?
- R’ Asher Weiss-מצוות שופר: תקיעה או שמיעה Is the mitzvah shmia or tkia? Yes! (tkia is the maaseh, the mahut is shmia).
- Ari Wasserman,Rabbi Yonah Reiss, Rabbi Yosef,Mrs. Nicole Meyer,Avi Schick,-8/30/25 – Shiur 526 – The “Epstein Files” – Do we have the right to know if someone is a threat to our community —whether a pedophile, abuser, or swindler? When can you (or bet din) discuss/act on allegations of criminal activities (including abuse)? Discussion of high-profile cases in the frum community as well as secular law issues.
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